A/N: Sorry the chapter is so short. I had to pack up some things. I'm going down to the family's camp for a few weeks. But, while I'm down there, I'll be bringing a notebook and I'll be handwriting new chapters to post when I get back. Since, you know, no internet by the lake.

For the first time in a little over three days, the ache in her mouth wasn't that bad. She had tried everything; cold drinks, warm drinks, even ignoring the pain didn't work. Who would have known an aquarium would have soothed her into such a deep, relaxed state?

She kneeled on the chair, staring mindlessly at the small clown fish that swam about. Her brother kneeled next to her and watched a few others go about their daily lives as well. Every few minutes, the blonde haired child would turn to watch her little friend and bump her glittery, pink fairy wings into the slightly older boy. He would, in turn, groan and push them away with one finger as to not get glitter all over himself.

Their mother sat patiently a few seats down, flipping through an old celebrity magazine. One of her legs laid on top of the other, her foot bouncing slightly as she waited for her daughters name to be called. Surprisingly, they were the only one's in the waiting room. It seemed every time they went to the dentist, the place was usually packed with crying babies and whining children. Yet, there was no one else there. Maybe it was because of the fact that it was so late.

The receptionist yawned as she walked in, holding a clipboard loosely in her hands. "Sophie Bennett?" She asked.

"Right here." The other answered, smiling as he children jumped off the chairs. She held her hand out to her youngest. "Come on, Soph. Time to get your teeth checked."

The two year old giggled and took her mother's hand happily, almost skipping into the dentist's office. Her brother shoved his hands into his pockets and followed them. All around stood pictures of fishes, flowers, and fairies. Some were drawn by other children who had visited. Others were professional paintings done just for this office to help calm little kids.

"Toothy!" Sophie shrieked happily when she saw her dentist swirl in her chair.

Tooth smiled down at the girl, tucking her hair behind her ear. "Hello to you too, little one. I hear something's wrong with your teeth. How about we sit on up here and see what's going on."

Sophie did not hesitate. Unlike most children, she loved the dentist. The feeling of having nothing else in your mouth, the minty-bubble gum taste that stuck there for a while, the sticker she got afterwards to add to her collection. It was hard to make her stay still as Tooth turned on the light and stuck her gloved fingers in.

Nothing seemed to be wrong. Her teeth were perfect. No black spots, not plaque. But something about that red spot in her gums made her worry. Her finger scrapped over it slightly, causing the child to whimper in pain.

"Sophie, sweetie." She said. "Did you hit your mouth on something or bump something against it?"

The blonde nodded. "My toothbrush."

"Ahh. I see. Well, it's nothing to worry about." Tooth snapped her gloves off and threw them away, looking up at her favorite patient's mother. "Her gums are a little bruised from getting hit with her toothbrush. Keep her away from acidy foods and no sweets."

Miss. Bennett nodded. "Of course. Thank you, Miss. Anna."

"Thank you!" Sophie beamed.

Tooth waved and smiled as they left, giggling at certain questions the youngest had for her mother. When they had completely left, she turned in her chair and stared at the computer screen. She blinked at the number of appointments she had that day, which, weren't many at all. Clicking on the next day, she sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose. Booked from the time she got in till the time she got out.

There weren't that many of those types of days. In fact, she could count on one hand how many times she had a full day in a month. But she still smiled and closed out of her appointment book. She loved her job more than anything else. Even more than she loved the 'family' she was a part of some would say. The computer sung as she held the power button down, the room becoming darker than it usually was. Her ears rang as everything became silent for the most part. The florescent light above her hummed and the sound of a few keys being punched from the computer next door seemed to calm her down. Just something about utter silence didn't seem right to her.

Briiiinnnnggg

Brrriiinnnngggg

Her cell phone vibrated next to the computer, making her jump in surprise. She looked down at the picture. An egg. With a sigh, she allowed it to ring a few more times before flipping it open and answering it.

"Hello?" She groaned.

There was a pause on the other line. A faraway group laughed in the background, the sound of glasses being placed down underneath it all. "Tooth…I…I need ya…"

"Why do you need me, Aster? Can't find your car again?" Tooth twirled in her chair, grabbing her purse as she did so.

"No, no, I see it…" He slurred. "Jus' can't drive it. North won' let me." A voice boomed on the other side, saying something she couldn't understand. "Ah, rack off! I'm fin'!"

Ever since they could drink, Aster and Tooth always went to the Blue Goose Tavern. It was the place to be. Everyone who was anyone went to the Blue Goose whether it was just to hang out or if it was to drown your sorrows in the best drinks in the state. If the train went by while you were eating or drinking, Old Mike would throw the bill in the shredder while everyone chanted. As soon as the blades began cutting the paper, the whole tavern would cheer, screaming the word 'train' over and over again.

When Old Mike died, the place didn't seem to be the same. He left it to his son who eliminated the free train drinks and snacks. One by one, usual costumers left and day by day, the place started to fall into ruins. There was no friendly smile when you walked in. There was no 'hey, how's it going' when you sat down to order. After a while, Old Mike's son just abandoned the place. That is, until he found a buyer.

Nicholas was a large man with a thick accent and an even thicker beard. With a hearty laugh, he signed the papers and fixed up the Blue Goose good as new. Of course, when people started coming back, it was hard for others to understand him. Nicholas only knew a few words in English but the accent hardly let on what he was trying to say. When Tooth finally started coming back, she gave him lessons, taught him how to read, write, and speak English enough for people to understand him. Over the years, he had earned the nickname 'North'. Well, not really so much earned as it was given to him while Aster had drank one too many drinks.

Tooth sighed as she waved to her receptionist before walking out the door. "I'll be there soon. Give North your keys."

"Bu' Tooth-"

"Aster." She said firmly. Tooth was not one you'd want to argue with.

"Give North your keys."

"Bu-"

"Now."

The Australian heaved a long sigh before the sound of keys jingling and slamming on a counter came into play. North laughed as he took them, saying something along the lines of taking care of his 'baby'. Tooth smiled in victory, beaming actually. "Alright, I'll be there in a minute!" With that, she hung up and pulled out of the driveway.

Truthfully, it wasn't that far of a drive. The Blue Goose Tavern was maybe a mile or two away and thankfully there was no other car to be seen. Which made her start thinking of horror movie scenarios of little girls in the middle of the street or zombies out to eat her soon to be rotting flesh. Her heart started pounding and her foot took notice, pressing down harder on the gas peddle. No. No, there was no way she was ending up in a God awful place like Silent Hill. Screw that; screw the speed limit, screw the police. She wasn't going to let anything like that happen.

Pulling up to the building brought back so many memories. Most blurry, some clear as day. But mostly blurry. She'd never admit it to anyone else that she enjoyed five too many drinks. The only people to ever know this would be Aster and North. And hopefully, it stays that way.

She was greeted with a warm smile and outstretched arms. "Ah, Toothie! So glad you made it!" North beamed.

Aster did not look as pleased. He glanced over his shoulder and quickly turned back to the bar, downing another glass of spiked egg nog; his favorite drink. Tooth let out a soft sigh before sitting next to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Alright, what happened?" She asked, watching North making her usual rainbow cocktail.

He shook his head as he stared down at his glass. Truthfully, he didn't want to think about it let alone talk about it. "Can we jus' go home?"

"After this one drink."

A group of completely drunk idiots decided to try their best at the new popular dance and tried even harder to sing along with the Korean song in the corner. The tipsy gathering of girls not too far away laughed and pointed, declaring that they were doing it wrong and that their grandmothers could do better. Tooth smiled as the sound of a train whistle interrupted the constant retorting of the groups. As the building shook, everyone began to cheer, some even chanting 'train' as black smoke and metal passed by the windows. North placed her drink down happily.

"One free rainbow." He said, sending her a wink.

She giggled back and waved him away, taking the fancy glass in her other hand. "Thank you, North. It's been a while."

Aster shook his head as North walked off, looking out the window at the train that passed. He remembered riding a train as a child with his father. Once a week during the summer, the two of them would ride down to the beach. They would always go to the bar car first and grab themselves each a banana split with chocolate sauce, whipped cream, and crunched nuts. What he would do to go back to those days.

"Alright, Aster." Tooth said as she swirled her straw around. "Tell me what's on your mind."

"You're a dentist. No' a therapist." He looked at her, his eyes feeling heavy as he did.

She stared at him rather firmly and almost had the nerve to slap him upside the head. "Yes, I am a dentist. But I'm also your friend."

He sighed and shook his head again, looking back at his drink. Ever since Jack agreed to get close to that boy, she had been jumping down his throat. "Nothin' is wrong. Jus' tired an' wanna go home."

"Are you afraid Jack is going to get hurt? You can trust m-"

"I jus' wanna go home, Anna!"

Hardly anyone used her real name. She could count on one hand the number of times Aster had called her by that. It was normal for patients to call her by her birth name, even neighbors. But never did it come from North, Jack, or the family…hardly ever did it come from Aster.

He rested his head in his hand, clearly upset. His shoulders shook, his Adam's apple bobbed, his lips even quivered. "Jus'…jus' bring me home…"

"Alright…" She whispered with a nod. "I'll take you home."

A/N: Alright, tomorrow, I'm off on an adventure! Be good, don't bash, blah blah blah. - ADAM

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